Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday night accused Israel of not being interested in peace and that it has destroyed any initiative for peace by what he calls its wars and acts of slaughter. After an iftar dinner to break the daily Ramadan fast, Assad said, “Israel has again showed that it does not want peace.” He continued, “Israel has dynamited all peace negotiations so far, it has massacred people in Lebanon, it has attacked Gaza.”

Assad said that Israel’s participation in talks is only “virtual,” reiterating remarks that Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem made earlier. “On the peace issue, we don't think Israel is present as a partner,” al-Moallem said. He accused Israel of continuing to construct Jewish homes within Judea and Samaria and battle against Gaza residents.

Assad’s statements were made at a meeting with Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul who is attempting to broker a renewal of peace talks between Syria and Israel.